Rob Stoner is easily one of the smartest, most interesting dudes in rock n roll history. Great interview!

I went to high school with Rob. He would show up in the lunch room and play guitar for us. Always a nice guy!

Rob’s videos have become my morning go-to, wake-up, put your happy pants on!! Man! What a repertoire!! Awesome! BTW, I was gifted a bass, old Fender Precision, after my dear friend Benjamin Bloomfield made a request for the album I was recording, I included it (I had lots of requests, but my wife and mother were the only other two), “Wang Dang Doodle,” I borrowed the bass to work up some arrangements at home but, when we were still recording, he came over and said I might as well keep it. “I won’t be needing this anymore, you keep it, okay?” …so, get the album recorded and mixed but not mastered yet, and I start to worry about this ‘won’t be needing this anymore…’ remark, start thinking I better let him hear his request ASAP cuz he was ailing. The producer was reluctant to let anything out before mastering, but I convinced him to make this exception. I Take this burnt CD over to B’s house, party going on mid-aft, put it on, give it a listen and he really digs my version of Dixon’s famous number-his request. I start feeling a little ripped after a while so I go home for a nap. That evening I get a wake-up call: you better get over here right away. So I wheel over there, front yard is full of cars, two big members of the tribe who are waiting pick me up and run me up the wheelchair ramp into the house, into the bedroom, into a chair beside him. He looks up and winks at me-and dies right there, my hand on top of his daughter’s over his heart-the last beat, the last breath. Only after I notice the room is full of friends and family. Everybody’s, you know, stunned. And then I hear my “Wang Dang Doodle” on the stereo. “How long’s THIS been on!?” “Since you left this afternoon, he didn’t want to hear anything else…” But that was seven hours ago! “I’d be okay with me if you put something else on…” I said. Nobody said anything. I can’t even remember what they put on next (Ronnie Earl, probably). “Ouch!” I thought: they never gonna want to hear that song again. But many of them told me over the years that they still dig it-even after that 7-hour endurance test. A measure of success, I guess, but I only wanted to make sure he got to hear it. Indeed, it was the last thing he heard. So that’s how I got “Wang Dang Doodle” on my album, my Fender bass, and about 25% of my vinyl collection which he willed to me. Came time to label and package the CD, I dedicated it to him and his hero, Charlie Parker: “Bird Lives” (which he had painted on his roof so the satellites he was sure were spying on us could see it). I can’t not say something about Mr Bloomfield. An old reprobate buddy of mine who’d moved to this little Island same time as I did introduced me to B: “You gotta meet this guy, he’s something else.” (A eulogist at his memorial said B even made the non-conformists nervous.) So I sat at his table, drank a few beers and talked stuff, way, way out there stuff, sometimes with an audience-for 25 years. I never met anyone like him. So many stories I could tell! But that very day I met him in his really idiosyncratic hippie house I noticed a small, framed Japanese-style print on the wall. “Wow, that sure looks like Kalamaka Lake.” And B says, “It is! That’s amazing! How did you know?” Then he gets up, writes “property of Scotty Donaldson” on the back. “This is yours now, but I get to keep it until I die. I’ll always remember you when I look at it every day.” Well, I’d just met this guy, didn’t know me from Adam. I hardly knew what to say. Never met anyone like him-and I knew it right there, day-one. And of course now it’s on my kitchen wall and I’ll always remember him every day until I too pass away. Bird Lives!

And Topaz! Let's not forget Topaz! The bass lines on the Topaz album are insane! This guy is a true master! I saw Topaz at the Palladium in the 70's. My vivid memory was Topaz on that big stage and all Rob was using was a small B-15! The amp looked lost, but, the tone and parts he played were unbelievable!

This was such an entertaining interview. What a cool guy. I could listen to Rob Stoner talk about rock-n- roll history and his career for hours. So glad he is doing videos here, and sharing his studio songs on Facebook. Happy girl here 🙂

I've been following Rob daily on Facebook and he's informative and cracks me up but this interview just solidified that! I was either laughing so hard I was choking on my Cheetos or learning something SUPER cool like where AP got it's progression and melody! Never knew that! Thanks, Rob! PS: When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin is not only derivative, it's a cover of Memphis Minnie's fantastic recording. Check it out!

Vincent what a beautiful song

GREAT SHOW !!

Rob is an amazing guy. Great musician. I would love to shoot the crap with him for an afternoon. Awesome interview !

❤️thank you John L!!

This was really good

❤️❤️the WONDERFUL Mister Stoner

Rob stoner an amazing bass player 🎶🎸

Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy actually recorded When the Levee Breaks first .. long ago!! I love that these lyric comments and questions are being brought up here. Most people don't go that deep! Nice. p.s. The song is based on the big 1927 flood of the Mississippi River that displaced 700,000 people and killed at least 1000 people. Bad times in the delta but great music! Here's a link to the original: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qd2YeMRp29u0Zok.html

I see what Robert means exactly Viva Rock& Roll for ever it is only the beginning This beautiful artist's say what must be said LOUD Not stupid love melancolic depressed music

"With the Jester on the sideline in a cast" = Dylan after the motorcycle accident. Right? + he was introduced in a previous verse "When the jester sang for the king and queen in a coat he borrowed from James Dean" ... Great topic and interview!!😽Go Rob!

Good job guys - from a boomer-basement bass-playing hobbyist. Absolutely at least a few rounds of lessons are essential, and lots of practice.

❤️👍

😀😀😀😀

Was cool seeing Rob and kenny..are they wearing the same hat?

Rob Stoner is such a great storyteller - "Never had a Plan B bro!!" fuckin A right!

Was Dylan a Good Guitar player ?

Appropriate last name.